The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1887-07-22
FACTS AeouT RATS.

interesting Information Gathered hy AN
ardent Admirer of the Rodent Family.
The rat Is finely equipped for ths pe
culiar life he Is ordained to leal Ii
has strong weapons In the shape of fou;
long and very sharp teeth; those teeth
have fine edge, the upper working
into the lower, so that they meet IN the
act of gnawing; while the soft part is
being worn away, the hard part keep.
its chisel-lke edge all the time. and u,
the same time the teeth are constant,
growing up from the bottom. so that Il
they wear away fresh supply is Ready
Should one of these teeth be removed
the opposite tooth will continue to|
grow, and there being nothing to wear
il away, it will project from the mouth
and be turned upon itself. and If il be
an under tooth it will grow SO long as
10 penetrate the skull.
There are curious facts connected
with the habits of the rat which war
rant close observation of them on the
part OF those who may have the oppor-
tunity. A lady at one time missed
several eggs from her store closet. aud
naturally concluded that they had been
stolen by the servant. She questioned
the girl, who denied any knowledge Of
the eggs, which continued to disap-
pear in the same mysterious ma tn,r.
when one day the thief was unexpcct-
edly discovered. The lady observed
one morning. on entering her store
room. singular sight \ little rat
was upon his back upon thc floor and
hugging an egg. while larger rat
was hauling him round by the tail. In
this way. undoubtedly, all the missing
eggs had been carried away.
Rats have two motions of the jaw IN
biting. The first is soft and delicate.
and the teeth just scratch the obicc,
they have hold of. Then follows =
quick. powerful action of the jaw. and
the slender teeth sink sp 10 the gums
All stay there. This bite is danger
ous. If the teeth have gone deeply in
u o.ae's hand it is well 10 suck the
wound. This seems to keep the swell
ing down, but always a good deal q:
pain follows. There is 20 harm in the
bite of well-fed rat. A frightened
rat will fight if cornered. and yieionlly.
kattb WY W SEstb Its 80 AiisAN
they can not bite is TO seize them with
strong grip just back OF the meek.
They will howl like stuck pigs. but can
not get away. and are entirely under
control.
Rats have n fine scent for iindine
ont where there is any thing nice to
eat. and IL has otter been n subiec Of
wonder how they manage TO gel OF
board ships laden with sugar and
other attractive cargoes. bn the inys-
terv has been solved. for they have
bee seen TO come off shore 10 the ship
by means of the rope which mpored her
10 the wharf b the same means
they will leave the ship when She gets
into port PARTICULARLY If they find Their
quarters lilling with water.
A gentleman house was once ia-
Tested with rats. and he glt completely
ril Of them BY catching OF, of them
alive. aud covering il with coal tar.
and allowing i, To re.ura - its hole.
At another TIM = trl1 wIs 50. n
night il hpase whers rats were
numerous. and in he morning the trap
was fonni sprany. wth 4 long tail in
inside. Its owner ha.l vanished. and.
perhaps. after relating rs narrow es-
cape. and how ke hil los, his bcaut'-
full tail. toak all his rat f-ienls m lcft
the house forever.
Il has h-ea toll b. II. d. $. Pierre.
that when the ma l-of-war Valiant re-
turncd fr5m Havana. IL tho year 1885.
the rats increased TO sucl an cx ant
that they DESTROYED hundred weight
of biscuit daily. Tn, ship was finally
smoked between decks aud six hampers
were. Tor some time. iiiled every iay
with rats that haL thus been killei.
When tn. atmospheric pumos were
in use at the terminus of the c Irydon
railway hun lrtis Of ra.s lost their lives
there in this way; At night they used
TO get INFO the large exhaus,ing tube
to lick tn. grease off the leather valve.
A. soon ~ the pump was put in order
IN work for the early train, ont these
rats were Sucked.
The rat. though naturally savage
creatur.. is capable of being tanned aud
made obcdient 10 the wiil OF man.
Some of the Japanese tn ale rats. AMI
teach them to perform mlly tricks;
then they exhibit them. -Caicrgo NeTs.